PhD in English

Class Profile

Class Size

25

Average Age

28

Average Work Experience

2 Years

Diversity

International:

5%

Others:

5%

New Jersey:

15%

New York:

10%

Pennsylvania:

65%

Career Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

$1,10,000 / year

Top recruiters

Accenture

Deloitte

Google

Amazon

Microsoft

Apple

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Tesla

Instagram

Meta

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

$44,792 / year

Overall Cost

$59,792 / year

FAQs

• How is progress monitored and assessment carried out?
  
  Students complete coursework, satisfy language requirements, and take comprehensive exams, followed by a dissertation prospectus. The degree is awarded upon the successful submission and defense of the doctoral dissertation.
• What funding opportunities are available for research students?
  
  All admitted PhD students receive funding for 5 years, which includes full tuition remission, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. Funding is provided through fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. Summer funding and professional development support are also available.
• Do international applicants need to demonstrate English language proficiency?
  
  Yes. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL or IELTS Academic scores unless they have completed a degree in English at an accredited institution.
• What are the entry requirements for admission?
  
  Applicants must hold a strong undergraduate degree in English or a related field. Application materials include a statement of purpose, a writing sample (15–20 pages), three letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. A Master’s degree is not required for direct entry into the PhD programme. GRE scores are not required.
• What research areas are available within this programme?
  
  Research areas include medieval and early modern literature, Renaissance and Shakespeare studies, eighteenth-century British literature, Romanticism, Victorian studies, American literature from colonial to contemporary periods, African American and African diasporic literature, Native American and Indigenous literatures, world Anglophone literatures, modernism, contemporary literature, poetry and poetics, rhetoric and composition, literacy studies, digital humanities, critical theory, disability studies, environmental humanities, and gender and sexuality studies.
• What is the duration of the PhD in English at Pennsylvania State University?
  
  The PhD typically takes 5–6 years of full-time study to complete.